Classic Poem

PLALM XI .

Expectans expectavi.

1.

While long I did, with patient constancy,
The pleasure of my God attend,
He did Himself to me-ward bend,
And harkned how and why that I did cry.
And me from pitt bemir'd,
From dungeon He retir'd,
Where I in horrors lay;
Setting my feet vpon
A steadfast rocky stone,
And my weake step did stay.

2.

So in my mouth He did a song afford,
New song unto our God of prayse,
Which many seeing hearts shall rayse.
To feare with trust, and trust with feare the Lord.
Oh, He indeed is blessed
Whose trust is so addressed;
Who bends not wand'ring eyes
To great men's peacock pride,
Nor ever turns aside
To follow after lyes.

3.

My God, Thy wondrous works how manifold!
What man Thy thoughts can count to Thee?
I fain of them would speaking be,
But they are more then can by me be told.
Thou sacrifice nor offring,
Burnt offring nor sin offring,
Didst like, much lesse didst craue:
But Thou didst peirce my eare,
Which should Thy lessons beare,
And witness me Thy slaue.

4.

Thus bound, I said, lo, Lord, I am at hand,
For in Thy book's roll I am writt,
And sought with deeds Thy will to hitt;
Yea, Lord, Thy law within my heart doth stand.
I to great congregation,
Thou know'st, made declaration
Of Thy sweet righteousness;
My lipps shall still reveale,
My heart shall not conceale
Thy truth, health, gratiousness.

5.

Then, Lord, from me draw not Thy tender grace,
Me still in truth and mercy saue;
For endless woes me compast haue,
So prest with sins I cannot see my case.
But tryall well doth teach me,
Foul faults, sore pains, do reach me,
More than my head hath haires;
So that my surest part,
My life-maintaining heart,
Failes me with ugly feares.

6.

Vouchsafe me help, O Lord, and help with hast:
Let them haue shame, yea, blush with shame,
Who jointly sought my bale to frame;
Let them be cast away that would me wast.
Let them with shame be cloyed,
Yea, let them be destroyed,
For guerdon of their shame,
Who so unpitteous be,
As now to say to me,
Aha! this is good game.

7.

But fill their hearts with joy who bend their wayes
To seek Thy beauty past conceit;
Let them that loue Thy saving seat,
Still gladly say, vnto our God bee prayse!
Tho I in want be shrinking,
Yet God on me is thinking:
Thou art my help for aye,
Thou, only Thou, art Hee
That dost deliver me;
My God, O make no stay.